Walking your dog in the forest, leash or freedom?
My dog and I are forest lovers. We often go for walks in the forest together. The smell of humus, mushrooms, fir, fallen leaves in autumn… it's a treat for the senses. The sound of wood creaking, of the wind rushing through the leaves, of forest animals…: it's very soothing. Walking in the forest with your dog is more relaxing than an hour of yoga or doga. It's really an experience to share with your dog, alone, just you and him in the middle of nature!
To share good times in the forest with your dog, I thought writing an article on forest walks with your dog was a good idea. Can you walk anywhere with your dog in the forest? How should I equip my dog for walks in the forest? What are the dangers for my dog in the forest? How not to lose my dog in the forest? On this subject, I will also tell you here about an object that I recently tested with Musher: the gps dog collar. Go shoo, let's walk in the woods, while the wolf is not there... 😉
Walk in the woods with your dog
The forest: a space of total freedom? Well no ! It is not possible to walk with your dog in all the forests of France and Navarre. Before going for a walk, make sure you are in a public forest. This is the first thing to validate. Private forests are private spaces where you are not allowed to roam. It's a bit like going for a walk in someone's garden or going to play Frisbee in your neighbor's garden: it's forbidden.
You must also check that the forest where you want to walk is not in a protected area. Last September, I was on vacation in the Jura. The forest above our holiday accommodation was forbidden to dogs for a few months a year, the nesting period of a rare species of bird. Forest rangers and/or country guards, in the best of cases, will remind you of the rules and ask you to leave the premises immediately. In the worst case, you can also find yourself paying a fine… Before going for a walk in the forest with your dog, check on the website of ONF, National Forestry Office.
My dog's equipment for a walk in the forest
Last Saturday, I went for a walk in the forest with my dog. I was in the middle of a “spiritual escape”, on my little cloud, when suddenly I saw Musher change his attitude. Straight tail and nose in the wind, she picked up an odor on the ground. And off she goes on the trail of a bug. She moves away quickly then suddenly disappears behind a large embankment. Neither one nor two, I call him and go after him. In a split second, I lost sight of her and she disappeared into the forest. I was so scared… After a few seconds, which seemed like centuries to me, she came back to me very happy.
Like Musher did, your dog may well smell a trail, and suddenly decide to follow it. You may also come across a critter that your dog will irresistibly want to greet a little closer. Some dogs, especially hunting dogs or Nordic breeds with a strong predatory instinct, become euphoric when they smell a trail. They follow the scent and completely ignore you, your calls and your cries etc. This type of situation is much more common than you think, and even dogs that respond well to the usual recall, can easily get lost in the forest.
For my part, Musher is always equipped with a collar with a medal bearing my name and my telephone number. Identify your dog is essential. She also wears a neon orange vest so I can see her from afar (and potential hunters too). She also has a bell on her collar which allows me to hear her if I lose sight of her.
The forest is a huge and unfenced environment and after my misadventure with Musher, I wanted to invest in a GPS collar for dogs. This solution is, for me, the ideal compromise between the leash and total freedom. I don't want to tie my dog in the forest, neither on a leash nor on a lanyard. I don't want to deprive her of a moment of total freedom.
I tested the Weenect Dogs 2 GPS. It's a smart system that lets you know where your dog is directly on your phone via an app. It is a small box, as big as a 9V battery, rectangular batteries, which is placed directly on the dog's collar. Once turned on, the GPS sends the dog's position in real time to the app. To test it, I sent my husband for a walk with Musher and had fun finding them. Thanks to the map and the augmented reality tool, I let myself be guided to them. I didn't fall directly on them but I rang the tracer and by straining my ears, I was able to spot them. The GPS tracker for dogs is a good compromise between freedom and security. And good point: it is waterproof! I freaked out when I saw Musher jump in the water with the tracker around his neck…
Fortunately, I didn't have to test it in panic mode with Musher on the loose, alone, in the wild. I had a runaway dog, small, and it was mega anxiety each time. His name was shouted throughout the village, hoping that he would reappear. If it had been fitted with such a tracer, we would have been able to immediately identify the area in which to look for it… Cheers for new technologies! Bonus, if your dog strays too far from you, you can configure the app to send you a notification and thus warn you that it's time to call your little companion back and avoid running away. In order for this tool to work properly, it must be charged, turned on, used in a location where it has good satellite reception and your phone can pick it up, and with enough battery. The Weenect Dogs 2 GPS tracker costs €69,99 and works with a monthly subscription.
The dangers of the forest for your dog
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Mushrooms, a danger for your dog
I'm a big fan of the forest because I'm also a big fan of mushrooms. I remember the long “mushroom” outings I shared in the forest with my father and my dog when I was little. But beware, if chanterelles, chanterelles or other porcini mushrooms are delicious on our plates, they are dangerous for our dogs. Some mushrooms contain muscarine, a substance lethal to dogs. In general: dogs and mushrooms don't mix well, so keep an eye on your pet and make sure he doesn't eat any of them. Some gourmands might be tempted...
Poisonous mushrooms often have a very bitter taste that will deter your dog from returning to them, however in small quantities, a mushroom can still cause great damage. Signs that should alert you: vomiting, salivation and diarrhea. And in the most serious cases, convulsions, tremors or even comas.
In this case, the most important thing is not to feed your dog and to go to your veterinarian urgently. For additional information, you can read or reread the article: “Walk in the Forest with your dog, mushrooms and poisoning".
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Chestnuts, acorns, pine cones…: toxic for your dog
Chestnuts and acorns contain a substance toxic to dogs. Acorns will cause digestive problems for your dog. As for browns, they can create neurological confusion in your dog or even epileptic seizures. Chestnuts and pine cones are non-toxic to your dog, but can cause intestinal blockages or stomach perforations.
It is therefore preferable not to let doggie play with it. Always keep an eye on him. Musher is a big foodie. I watch everything she puts in her mouth. He's THE specialist in “I eat anything because I'm too super mega faiiiiiiim”.
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Appetizing but toxic berries for your dog
Just like for humans, holly berries are harmful for our four-legged friend. Although very appetizing, they can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea in dogs. If you come across one during your getaway in the forest, do not let your dog approach it and keep it close to you to avoid any contact.
The same is true for strawberries, raspberries or wild blackberries. In small quantities, your dog does not risk anything but in too large quantities, they can become dangerous because of their sugar level. As for echinococcosis, your dog, like you, does not risk much unless you eat a fruit on which an infested fox would have defecated.
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Waste of all kinds
For once, I'm going to take advantage of this article to have a little rant. Forests are not toilets or recycling centers!!!! I can't count the times when Musher brings me plastic bottles, when I catch her eating picnic leftovers, when she sniffs disgusting tissues…. !!!! Seriously, you're allowed to pee in the forest, but please slip your little tissues into a dog poop bag and slip it into your backpack or pocket. Respect the fauna and flora or else: stay at home! Tired of this pollution. A paper handkerchief takes at least 3 months to degrade in nature.
- The forest: hunting area
At certain times of the year, you can come across groups of hunters in the forest. It is not impossible to walk in the forest at this season but be careful. Take your precautions: I tell you more in this article Walk with your dog during the hunting season.
Moreover, if your dog does not like noise or is afraid of gunshots, I strongly advise against taking him for a walk in the forest during the hunting season. One, he would be very uncomfortable and two, he might run away for fear of the noise. If that happens, you now know that with the GPS collar for dogs, you can find him very quickly.
- Presence of wild animals in the forest
Finally, I think it is important to remember that the forest is inhabited by local flora and fauna. It is important to respect the fauna that inhabits the woods and to educate your dog so that he does not jump on all the small animals he may encounter in the forest. And if his instinct is too strong, it's up to you to take your precautions and consider keeping him on a leash. In front of your dog, the animal can flee, or feeling in danger, decide to attack. A female wild boar roaming the forest with her young can be a very dangerous animal: the situation can very quickly degenerate. It is also your responsibility to keep an eye on your dog and pay attention to him and what he encounters.
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The forest is a huge playground and freedom. Walking your dog in the forest is the guarantee of sharing a real good time, simple and precious. Be watchful of your dog and respect other forest dwellers. We are lucky in France to have many national forests where you can go for long walks with your dog: take advantage of it!
On your next outing, remember to share your photos with us on Instagram with #takeondog !